Season 4-ugh - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jude The Obscure · 04-03-2008, 01:16 PM

Just got season 4 disc 1 from Netflix--I can't believe how disappointed at how the show made such HUGE changes with no explanantion, much less any rhyme or reason. I certainly don't care for Cy Bennett--too much of a Mr. Mooney clone, while Doris finds herself in Lucy like situations. Jackie Joseph is okay, but she is no Rose Marie! Why they got rid of Rose Marie is something I don't understand. I'll admit Mclean Stevenson's character was a bit on the bland side, but Paul Smith's Ron Harvey was a good comic cutup. We don't even have an explanation of how Doris went from secretary to reporter and how Cy became her boss. She is still living in the same apartment, but gone are the kids and dog--would it have killed them to have at least explain why the kids were no longer with her?? I'll finish watching this disc but I'm not sure if I want to rent the rest of the series. If I buy any of these, it will be just seasons 1-3.

dakert · 10-30-2008, 02:45 PM

Jude, dont give up on Doris. Season 4 was kind of a let down for me also but when you get to season 5 it is Very Good and shouldnt be missed

Jude The Obscure · 10-30-2008, 07:58 PM

I may rent season 5 and give it a chance. If the complete series box set comes at a great deal online, I will get it, but otherwise I'm still sticking to buy the first three seasons only.

LittleRickyII · 07-12-2009, 03:44 PM

Keep watching and you'll find that the Doris in seasons four and five has actually (bizarrely) morphed into a totally different person from the first three seasons. The reason the kids don't appear in the last two seasons is that somehow they don't exist and never did (even though this new Doris is in the same apartment the old Doris had shared with those kids)! The Doris in seasons four and five is referred to as "Miss" (instead of "Mrs.") Doris Martin, implying she's never been married. There's even a reference (I think in the fifth season, in a conversation between Doris and Peter Lawford's character) that indicates Doris's mother is still alive, but her father is deceased!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Just got season 4 disc 1 from Netflix--I can't believe how disappointed at how the show made such HUGE changes with no explanantion, much less any rhyme or reason. I certainly don't care for Cy Bennett--too much of a Mr. Mooney clone, while Doris finds herself in Lucy like situations. Jackie Joseph is okay, but she is no Rose Marie! Why they got rid of Rose Marie is something I don't understand. I'll admit Mclean Stevenson's character was a bit on the bland side, but Paul Smith's Ron Harvey was a good comic cutup. We don't even have an explanation of how Doris went from secretary to reporter and how Cy became her boss. She is still living in the same apartment, but gone are the kids and dog--would it have killed them to have at least explain why the kids were no longer with her?? I'll finish watching this disc but I'm not sure if I want to rent the rest of the series. If I buy any of these, it will be just seasons 1-3.

Adamantium · 07-13-2009, 06:59 AM

I can handle any change a show gives me. AS LONG AS IT'S EXPLAINED! Yes, I like certain characters and am sad when they're no longer there, but I would accept the changes if they would simply explain where the character went and information like that.

It insults the audience's intelligence when they make such changes and don't explain them.

You could come up with some story that the two boys are in some sort of school where they live there. Or even that they moved back with Buck on the farm. That would explain why Doris lives alone. But if that were the case, Doris would mention them and miss them like crazy. But instead, she acted as if she didn't have sons at all.

The show seemed so much about family. Even after Doris and the boys left the farm, Buck made a few guest appearances. But beginning with the fourth season, it's like her family doesn't exsist.

Jude The Obscure · 08-28-2009, 05:56 PM

I am hoping to get the complete series set on a great deal one of these days.

McGillicuddy · 02-02-2010, 08:47 PM

I just got the complete series set, for a great deal. Unfortunately, the extras for the first season do not play. I'm going to get that disc replaced, but am thouroughly enjoying the show. That does suck, all the changes they made in season 4 though. No explanation as to where the kids went????? Weird!

Jude The Obscure · 02-05-2010, 12:41 AM

I still haven't seen a deal good enough for me to buy it......I may just end up doing 1-3 only.

04-03-2008, 01:16 PM	#1
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Season 4-ugh Just got season 4 disc 1 from Netflix--I can't believe how disappointed at how the show made such HUGE changes with no explanantion, much less any rhyme or reason. I certainly don't care for Cy Bennett--too much of a Mr. Mooney clone, while Doris finds herself in Lucy like situations. Jackie Joseph is okay, but she is no Rose Marie! Why they got rid of Rose Marie is something I don't understand. I'll admit Mclean Stevenson's character was a bit on the bland side, but Paul Smith's Ron Harvey was a good comic cutup. We don't even have an explanation of how Doris went from secretary to reporter and how Cy became her boss. She is still living in the same apartment, but gone are the kids and dog--would it have killed them to have at least explain why the kids were no longer with her?? I'll finish watching this disc but I'm not sure if I want to rent the rest of the series. If I buy any of these, it will be just seasons 1-3.

10-30-2008, 02:45 PM	#2
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,410	Jude, dont give up on Doris. Season 4 was kind of a let down for me also but when you get to season 5 it is Very Good and shouldnt be missed

10-30-2008, 07:58 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I may rent season 5 and give it a chance. If the complete series box set comes at a great deal online, I will get it, but otherwise I'm still sticking to buy the first three seasons only.

07-13-2009, 06:59 AM	#5
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,820	I can handle any change a show gives me. AS LONG AS IT'S EXPLAINED! Yes, I like certain characters and am sad when they're no longer there, but I would accept the changes if they would simply explain where the character went and information like that. It insults the audience's intelligence when they make such changes and don't explain them. You could come up with some story that the two boys are in some sort of school where they live there. Or even that they moved back with Buck on the farm. That would explain why Doris lives alone. But if that were the case, Doris would mention them and miss them like crazy. But instead, she acted as if she didn't have sons at all. The show seemed so much about family. Even after Doris and the boys left the farm, Buck made a few guest appearances. But beginning with the fourth season, it's like her family doesn't exsist.

08-28-2009, 05:56 PM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I am hoping to get the complete series set on a great deal one of these days.

02-02-2010, 08:47 PM	#7
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I just got the complete series set, for a great deal. Unfortunately, the extras for the first season do not play. I'm going to get that disc replaced, but am thouroughly enjoying the show. That does suck, all the changes they made in season 4 though. No explanation as to where the kids went????? Weird!

02-05-2010, 12:41 AM	#8
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I still haven't seen a deal good enough for me to buy it......I may just end up doing 1-3 only.